“Music is the window to another world, if you’re in London it can be American music. In America it might be The Smiths or The Beatles or whatever, it opens the window to something else that’s possible.” That’s the message screenwriter Sarfraz Manzoor was passionate to share about his new film, Blinded By The Light about a young boy who finds life guidance and inspiration through Bruce Springsteen’s catalog.
Sarfraz is also a HUGE fan of The Boss. Gurinder Chadha, director of the film, is too. It’s interesting to hear how they absorbed his Americana across the pond. “There is a romance in the fact that he is American, if you grow up far, far from places, a place like the NJ Turnpike sounds really cool if you don’t drive on it! We’re in Philly, I grew up knowing about the The Sprectrum, I’ve seen videos of Springsteen singing “when you walk in the room,” I know what this place means to Bruce- having never even been here! It means more when you’re not from there!”
A place like the NJ Turnpike sounds really cool if you don’t drive on it!
Contrarily, young stars of the film, Viveik Kalra & Aaron Phagura, were not familiar with his East Coast jams until working on the film. But they caught on quickly and gained an instant appreciation. “The Boss was sitting two rows in front of use during the premiere on Wednesday; it was the weirdest thing to watch our movie with the outline of Bruce RIGHT THERE!”
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